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Kinara
Pronounced kih-NAH-ruh /kɪˈnɑː.rə/Medium
Meaning: Kinara is best known in the U.S. as the Swahili word for the seven-branched candleholder used in Kwanzaa, which holds the candles of the seven principles. The same word, from Persian and Arabic, means 'shore; edge; bank' in Urdu and Hindi. Which route a family intends varies, and the routes are uncertain, which we note.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Kinara carries two clear histories. In Swahili, the kinara is the candleholder of Kwanzaa, the African American celebration founded in the 1960s: seven branches for the seven principles, lit through the week. In Urdu and Hindi, kinara — a borrowing from Persian — means 'shore; edge; riverbank', and appears often in poetry and song. Families may choose the name from either tradition, and the routes are uncertain, which we note (said 'kih-NAH-ruh').
It is rare for girls in the U.S. Rare, meaningful, and doubly rooted.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Kinara mean?
In Swahili, kinara is the seven-branched Kwanzaa candleholder. In Urdu and Hindi the same word means 'shore; edge'. The routes are uncertain, which we note.
How do you pronounce Kinara?
It's said kih-NAH-ruh /kɪˈnɑː.rə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Kinara a boy or girl name?
Kinara is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Kinara?
Kinara is a rare name for girls in the U.S.